Rivals Northwestern and Northern Lehigh again made last week's game one to remember.

The Tigers traveled to nearby Slatington to try to win a game there for the first time since 1996.

In the early going, things didn't look good. The Bulldogs took a 14-0 lead into the locker room as the Tigers were left trying to find a way to come back.

They did. Northwestern scored on its first drive of the third quarter to cut the lead to 14-7.

Fast forward to the fourth quarter. Bulldogs fullback Matt Gill takes the ball 55 yards in for a score, but it gets called back because of a holding penalty.

"If we don't get that holding penalty, it's 21-7 with about four minutes left," Northern Lehigh coach Joe Tout said.

The Bulldogs had to punt, which gave the Tigers one more shot in regulation. Northwestern winds up with the ball around the 35 and completed a pass, putting it inside Northern Lehigh's 5. The Tigers scored the game-tying touchdown shortly thereafter.

"At that point when they kicked off, we wanted to get to overtime," Tout said. "All the momentum had swung Northwestern's way. So for us to get to overtime was pretty critical."

Both teams scored in the first OT, forcing the second extra session.

Northern Lehigh chose to give Northwestern the ball first.

"We got a huge break because they had an illegal procedure on first down," Tout said. "So they went from first-and-10 to first-and-15. They got out of what they were doing well."

After gaining a few yards on a run, Brandon Mohrey came up with a sack that pushed the Tigers back even more.

"That pushed them back closer to the 20," Tout said.

Northwestern threw a pass on its next play, but it ricocheted and went through a player's hands around the 5.

"The way things were going, I wouldn't have been surprised if it ricocheted back to him," Tout said.

On fourth down, the Tigers kicked a field goal to take a three-point lead.

Northern Lehigh had one more chance.

"Our kids wanted to get back out there immediately," Tout said. "I think the kids sensed they were moving the ball pretty well."

The Bulldogs ran the option on first down and Gill got 7 yards. On second down, Tout altered their formation a little and Gill scored from the 3 out of the power-I. There was no need to kick the extra point.

"That was the first time we've ever won in overtime at our school," Tout said. "We had the kids run onto the field from our sideline."

One of my questions for Tout was, 'How much talking did he and Northwestern coach Bob Mitchell do after the game?'

"We shook hands and I said, 'Good luck,'" Tout said. "I felt bad for those kids. It was one of those games where you can say it's a shame someone had to lose. We had the momentum. They fought back in the second half and then they had to have the feeling on the sideline after they tied it that they were going to win. Then it happened so quick.

"You have to know when to talk and you have to know when to shut up. There was nothing I could say to make anything better."

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About this blog

Morning Call Sports Reporters Stephen Miller and Tom Housenick blog about high school and college sports action on and off the field in and around the Lehigh Valley, only at themorningcall.com.

Meet the bloggers

TOM HOUSENICK watches every move Lehigh’s C.J. McCollum makes on the court, laughs at every joke by Lafayette coach Fran O’Hanlon and watches all the Divisions II and III coaches and players do it for the love of the game. Basketball makes the cold weather season go by fast. Already can’t wait for late February and early March when each possession could result in a season ending or continuing on.

Wrapping up his ninth year at The Morning Call, STEPHEN MILLER is back for year No. 4 on the LVC football beat. He chronicled Central Catholic's state-championship run in 2010, watched Nazareth win its first LVC title in 2011 and saw the league crown tri-champions for the first time in 2012. He has also covered the Phillies, college football and a variety of prep sports while with The Morning Call. To stay updated on the 2013 LVC football season, check out the Varsity blog and follow him on Twitter @mcall_smiller.